ADVERTISEMENT
  • The Membership Club
  • PT Hausa
  • About Us
  • Advert Rates
  • Careers
  • Contact Us
Saturday, March 6, 2021
Premium Times Nigeria
  • Home
  • COVID-19
  • News
    • Headline Stories
    • Top News
    • More News
    • Foreign
  • Investigations
  • Business
    • News Reports
    • Financial Inclusion
    • Analysis and Data
    • Business Specials
    • Opinion
    • Oil/Gas Reports
      • FAAC Reports
      • Revenue
  • Opinion
  • Health
    • News Reports
    • Investigations
    • Data and Infographics
    • Health Specials
    • Features
    • Events
    • Primary Health Tracker
  • Agriculture
    • News Report
    • Research & Innovation
    • Data & Infographics
    • Special Reports/Features
    • Investigations
    • Interviews
    • Markets
  • Arts/Life
    • Arts/Books
    • Kannywood
    • Lifestyle
    • Music
    • Nollywood
    • Travel
  • Sports
    • Football
    • More Sports News
    • Sports Features
  • Projects
    • Parliament Watch
    • Panama Papers
    • Paradise Papers
    • AGAHRIN
  • Home
  • COVID-19
  • News
    • Headline Stories
    • Top News
    • More News
    • Foreign
  • Investigations
  • Business
    • News Reports
    • Financial Inclusion
    • Analysis and Data
    • Business Specials
    • Opinion
    • Oil/Gas Reports
      • FAAC Reports
      • Revenue
  • Opinion
  • Health
    • News Reports
    • Investigations
    • Data and Infographics
    • Health Specials
    • Features
    • Events
    • Primary Health Tracker
  • Agriculture
    • News Report
    • Research & Innovation
    • Data & Infographics
    • Special Reports/Features
    • Investigations
    • Interviews
    • Markets
  • Arts/Life
    • Arts/Books
    • Kannywood
    • Lifestyle
    • Music
    • Nollywood
    • Travel
  • Sports
    • Football
    • More Sports News
    • Sports Features
  • Projects
    • Parliament Watch
    • Panama Papers
    • Paradise Papers
    • AGAHRIN
Premium Times Nigeria
BUA Group Ad BUA Group Ad BUA Group Ad
ADVERTISEMENT
Minister of Works and Housing Mr Babatunde Fashola SAN making a point during a Press Briefing on the Partial Closure for Repairs and Restoration of the Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos at the Ministry of Works and Housing Headquarters Mabushi Abuja on Tuesday 21st July 2020 [PHOTO CREDIT: worksandhousing]

FILE: Minister of Works and Housing Mr Babatunde Fashola SAN making a point during a Press Briefing on the Partial Closure for Repairs and Restoration of the Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos at the Ministry of Works and Housing Headquarters Mabushi Abuja on Tuesday 21st July 2020 [PHOTO CREDIT: worksandhousing]

INVESTIGATION: Authority Stealing: How Fashola’s ministry illegally paid ₦4.6BN into officials‘ personal accounts

In clear violation of extant law, Fashola's ministry paid over ₦4.6 billion into personal accounts of directors, staff in four months

byYusuf Akinpelu
November 16, 2020
7 min read

Between September and December 2019, a princely ₦4.6 billion was illegally paid into the private accounts of some directors and employees of the then ministry of power, works and housing, data obtained by PREMIUM TIMES have shown.

Although the power ministry, in response to an FOI request by this newspaper, claimed that only N157 million was paid to 127 staff members within the period under review, records in the possession of this newspaper have proven the ministry’s claim to be untrue.

The ministry of power is now a standalone ministry and it is now led by Saleh Mamman. But at the time the allocation for the payments was made in 2019, the omnibus ministry of works, power and housing was headed by Babatunde Fashola.

Our records, some obtained from the Open Treasury Portal, show that the sum of N4.6 billion (exactly ₦4,608,394,262.22) was paid in 654 tranches into the accounts of 21 private individual accounts. Two-thirds of that amount went to two men: Ogueri Ugochukwu Pascal and Olasehinde Micah.  

While Mr Pascal was paid ₦1.6 billion (₦1,642,407,539.93) in 306 tranches, Mr Micah was paid ₦1.4 billion (₦1,417,921,892.59) in 34 tranches.

Most of the payments that summed up to ₦4.6 billion came with little, sometimes vague, details.

A striking example is contained in the data published on the open treasury portal on October 26, last year. Mr Pascal was paid a total of ₦159 million for such things as “zonal revenue tour,” “disbursement of funds for right of way,” “verification exercise,” “quarterly budget implementation,” each in the six geopolitical zones, as well as to conduct the “2019 senior staff promotion exercise,” and for “junior staff promotion in the housing sector.”

Also, a total payment of ₦134 million was made to Adebowale Adebayo Kamoru as “six months allowances to the NHP staff” in each of the six geopolitical zones.

PREMIUM TIMES could not identify the identity of Messrs Pascal and Kamoru. Online searches for their names yielded little details other than the filings of payments made to their accounts on the treasury portal. The news ministry of power claimed they are not its staff members. The works and housing ministry did not respond to our request for clarification.

RelatedNews

COVID-19: Nigeria records 371 new cases, three deaths as vaccination begins

PDP celebrates Obasanjo at 84

Nigerian equities extend slide on profit-taking in leading stocks

Naira falls on I&E window

The data on the portal further revealed that Mr Kamoru, alongside five other zonal directors of the national housing programme (NHP) under the ministry of works and housing were paid, in October alone, a sum of ₦44.6 million These officials were each paid different amounts totalling ₦44.6 million “to embark on quarterly budget implementation in the six geopolitical zones.”

Below is a summary of the payments and their beneficiaries.

EMPLOYEE AMOUNT No of tranches
1 OGUERI , MR. UGOCHUKWU PASCAL                1,642,407,539.93 306
2 OLASEHINDE MICAH                1,417,921,892.59 34
3 ADEBOWALE, MR. ADEBAYO KAMORU                   665,123,476.80 41
4 ALIU GIWA                   203,141,139.48 23
5 DATA NANBAM HEZEKIAH                   150,049,200.00 14
6 NWACHUKWU, MR. CHIEMEKA OGBONNA                     79,856,382.50 29
7 MOHAMMED, MR. NURA                     51,669,320.00 44
8 AYODELE, MR. ADEMOLA ANTHONY                     49,431,000.00 19
9 ASHAFA, MR. MUNKAILA                     41,867,587.31 15
10 MOHAMMED, MR. BALA HALILU                     40,768,300.00 16
11 AYODELE, MR. OLAOLUWA TITUS                     40,568,665.00 13
12 TOBI, MS. DEIMI EDNA                     35,086,834.00 6
13 BABANGIDA IBRAHIM                     28,169,400.00 3
14 OKORO, MRS. EGWU OLA                     26,739,200.00 28
15 AKU, MR. ALEWO LINUS                     25,289,873.76 1
16 AYODELE, MR. OLAJIDE SUNDAY                     23,123,200.00 6
17 BAPPAH, MR. ABUBAKAR SALIHU                     21,648,222.00 6
18 EDO, MR. PAULSON UYI                     20,985,033.85 8
19 ALONGE, MS. FUNKE GRACE                     19,365,200.00 11
20 AKINDELE, MS. ENITAN OLUSOLA                     17,503,995.00 29
21 ONWUBALILI, MRS. OYINLOLA ADUNOLA                       7,678,800.00 2
Total     4,608,394,262.22 654

They include Onwubalili Oyinlola Adunola, a project coordinator of the ministry of works and housing; Nwaimo Obi Valentine, the north-central zonal director of the programme; Uzodinma Lucy Iquo; Oko-Jaja Emmanuel Daminabo, the south-south zonal director; and Waziri Mshella Micah, also a zonal director.

Dangote adbanner 728x90_2 (1)

Power ministry’s response

The ministry claimed that, despite contrary evidence, that only N157 million was paid to 127 staff members.

The 127 staffers were cut down from the longlist of 142 persons it sent to this medium, 10 of whom were on PREMIUM TIMES’ initial list of 21. It said six others were not its staff members and gave no information about the remaining five.

In the ministry’s list of 142, it said 15 of them, to whom it said a total of N465 million was paid, are not its staff members.

Nigeria's Minister of Power, Engr. Saleh Mamman. [PHOTO CREDIT: Official Twitter handle of Mr Saleh | @EngrSMamman]

“This may be due to the fact that the ministry has been separated from the ministry of works and housing,” the letter dated October 14 and signed by the ministry’s director of finance, Adewumi Omotayo, read.

PREMIUM TIMES’ FOI request acknowledged by the works and housing ministry on October 28 seeking comments on the said personnel has not been replied. Mr Fashola’s spokesperson, Hakeem Bello, also directed all inquiries to the power ministry.

ADVERTISEMENT

 

What N157 million was used for

A review of the ministry’s N157 million paid to 127 staffers showed that a total of N141.3 million as duty tour allowance to 97 staffers, with the highest amount of N28.78 million going to one Nwachukwu Chiemeka Ogbonna. How a single staff member will receive almost N29million in duty tour allowance in four months remains unclear.

Another N3.3 million was paid as “open pocket expense” to 20 personnel, the ministry’s response showed. Ajanaku Waidi got N337,000 of this amount.

Likewise, N7.2 million was paid to four personnel to purchase office equipment. They include: Adikwu Ogbe Friday, N745,789; Agbawa Ogueri George, N1.1 million; Ahmed Yaro Nafisa, N583,200; Olutayo Andrew Bukola, N4.8 million.

An advance payment (imprest) of N382,400 was also paid to three employees (Akanbi Iyabo, Akinyemi Adefunke and Alawode Felicia).

Other payments include N4.6 million for “printing of document FEC memos”; N476,600 as payment for union matter; and N530,600 as (four months) salary to Bobai Rifkatu, a domestic attendant in the ministry (or commissionaire as described by the ministry). Although the ministry said its staff members who benefited are from level 12 to 17.

Financial contravention

The ministry’s payments of monies into private accounts violates chapter 7, section 701 of the financial regulation of the country.

Agencies are compelled by the provision “to operate only three bank accounts as follows: salary account, overhead cost account and revenue account” as “no other bank account shall be allowed without the express approval of the Accountant-General.” 

Section 713 of the same chapter also says under no condition should personal money be paid into the government’s bank account “nor shall any public money be paid into a private bank account.” 

“An officer who pays public money into a private account is deemed to have done so with fraudulent intention,” the section reads.

Opaque transparency

The Nigerian government launched the open treasury portal in December 2019, as part of a move towards increasing transparency in government spending. It, however, did not take off until 2020, although the daily update of the portal remained sluggish as of March.

The portal aims to provide a comprehensive space for the collation of data by all ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) on budget implementation, financial records, as well as transactions above certain thresholds.

But a series of discrepancies on the portal has raised concerns among accountability advocates. 

In June, a civic advocacy group, BudgIT, said, between January and July 2019, it discovered that large sums were paid into personal accounts, including several records with vague descriptions and other discrepancies on the portal.

For one, PREMIUM TIMES also observed that in the same month, ₦13.5 million was paid to “Jauro Aishatu Audu” for “capacity building.”

“Over 2,900 payments to individuals were recorded at an aggregate value of ₦51 billion,” the group said. “A few examples include, ₦2.04 billion , ₦2.04 billion and ₦1 billion paid into personal accounts on the 21st of June 2019 without any payment description along with another ₦68 million payment for “Ogunsuyi” and ₦15.8 million for “international” on other dates.

“In the same 2019, we also discovered payment records without descriptions or beneficiary information. At least 5,000 payment records valued at ₦278 billion were without descriptions and 275 payment records with a value of ₦43 billion were without beneficiary name.

“These inconspicuous payments cannot be assessed or traced by citizens and interested parties, thereby defeating the purpose of the platform to foster transparency.”

This is the first part of a series of reports on how the nation’s ministries are breaching the law to make payments into private accounts of their employees and other private individuals.

  • WhatsApp
  • Tweet
  • Email
  • Print
  • Telegram
  • More
  • Share on Tumblr
  • Pocket

Support PREMIUM TIMES' journalism of integrity and credibility

Good journalism costs a lot of money. Yet only good journalism can ensure the possibility of a good society, an accountable democracy, and a transparent government.

For continued free access to the best investigative journalism in the country we ask you to consider making a modest support to this noble endeavour.

By contributing to PREMIUM TIMES, you are helping to sustain a journalism of relevance and ensuring it remains free and available to all.

Donate


TEXT AD: To advertise here . Call Willie +2347088095401...



JOIN THE CONVERSATION

  • Disqus (11)
premiumtimes



PT Mag Campaign AD

Previous Post

Another COVID-19 vaccine shows nearly 95% protection

Next Post

Food prices highest in Kwara, Edo, Sokoto in October – NBS

Yusuf Akinpelu

Yusuf Akinpelu

Yusuf Akinpelu is PREMIUM TIMES' Head of Data Desk. Prior to this, he covered the National Assembly and fact-checked for Dubawa. He is a graduate of Statistics from the University of Ibadan. He has a penchant for books, debates, and wildlife.

More News

the Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) Faisal Shuaib administering the vaccines on Friday

COVID-19: Nigeria records 371 new cases, three deaths as vaccination begins

March 6, 2021
Abdulrasheed Maina

Assets Re-looting Allegation: No document tendered to back claims against EFCC- Maina’s Witness

March 6, 2021
Nigerian Police officers on duty [Photo credit: Today.ng]

Nigerian police officer arrested for stealing five AK-47 rifles

March 5, 2021
Governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal [PHOTO CREDIT: @AWTambuwal]

Bandits kill 14 in Sokoto attacks

March 5, 2021
President Muhammadu Buhari decorating the new Chief of Defence Staff, Lucky Irabor. [PHOTO CREDIT: @BashirAhmaad]

Secure the country before rainy season, Buhari charges new Service Chiefs

March 5, 2021
Nigerian Army after recapturing Mubi

Nigerian soldier arrested supplying ammunition, uniforms to bandits – Zamfara Govt

March 5, 2021
Next Post
Market women used to illustrate the story. [Photo credit: Around the World in 80 Clicks]

Food prices highest in Kwara, Edo, Sokoto in October - NBS

Register with TRCN or lose promotion, Kaduna advises teachers

Teachers Scheme: Nigerian govt to deploy 3,700 teachers to states, FCT

Discussion about this post

Search

#EndSARS: Latest Updates




Polaris Bank


JAIZ Ad


Access Bank Ad


NITDA Ad





Glo Ad

Subscribe to News via Email

Enter your email address and receive notifications of news by email.

Join 1,629,455 other subscribers.

Advertisement






netherland biz school Advert



Zenith Advert

ADVERTISEMENT

Our Digital Network

  • PT Hausa
  • Election Centre
  • Human Trafficking Investigation
  • Centre for Investigative Journalism
  • National Conference
  • Press Attack Tracker
  • PT Academy
  • Dubawa
  • LeaksNG
  • Campus Reporter

Resources

  • Oil & Gas Facts
  • List of Universities in Nigeria
  • LIST: Federal Unity Colleges in Nigeria
  • NYSC Orientation Camps in Nigeria
  • Nigeria’s Federal/States’ Budgets since 2005
  • Malabu Scandal Thread
  • World Cup 2018
  • Panama Papers Game
  • Our Digital Network
  • About Us
  • Resources
  • Projects
  • Data & Infographics
  • DONATE

All content is Copyrighted © 2020 The Premium Times, Nigeria

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • COVID-19
  • News
    • Headline Stories
    • Top News
    • More News
    • Foreign
  • Investigations
  • Business
    • News Reports
    • Financial Inclusion
    • Analysis and Data
    • Business Specials
    • Opinion
    • Oil/Gas Reports
      • FAAC Reports
      • Revenue
  • Health
    • News Reports
    • Investigations
    • Data and Infographics
    • Health Specials
    • Features
    • Events
    • Primary Health Tracker
  • Agriculture
    • News Report
    • Research & Innovation
    • Data & Infographics
    • Special Reports/Features
    • Investigations
    • Interviews
    • Markets
  • Arts/Life
    • Arts/Books
    • Kannywood
    • Lifestyle
    • Music
    • Nollywood
    • Travel
  • Sports
    • Football
    • More Sports News
    • Sports Features
  • Projects
    • Panama Papers
    • Paradise Papers
    • Parliament Watch
    • AGAHRIN
  • Opinion
  • PT Hausa
  • The Membership Club
  • Dubawa
    • Dubawa NG
  • About Us
  • Advert Rates
  • Careers
  • Contact Us
  • Digital Store
  • DONATE

All content is Copyrighted © 2020 The Premium Times, Nigeria

Our website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.
loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.